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Hosted Unified Communications Becoming Increasingly Sought

Written by Katie Maller, Comm Mgr | October 17, 2014

The time is coming for many organizations to re-evaluate their enterprise communications networks. Not only are many legacy systems ill-equipped on their own to handle the telecom demands of the modern workforce, but a great deal of them have fallen into obsolescence. Even if they can be updated with new features, they are still unable to provide an effective connection. There are plenty of instances where existing solutions are able to adapt and be enabled with things like cloud functionality, but those companies in need of a brand-new set-up should consider looking elsewhere for assistance.

This is why hosted unified communications services are becoming so popular. With the network managed off-site and accessed through the cloud, hosted UC is becoming popular for its ease of use and competitive advantage.

"Businesses are flocking to turnkey products because they are easier to use and can save them money," wrote TMCnet contributor Casey Houser. "They can also offer a lessening of responsibility on the part of businesses because they will not need a dedicated IT team to handle system servers and troubleshoot issues. Outside hosting companies manage that on their end and simply deliver communications tools through the pipe. Specialization on each end can boost productivity and lower costs for all involved, and companies can concentrate on creating quality products and assisting their customers."

Unified communications are becoming the new status quo for businesses around the world - regardless of how they are deployed. For those organizations that have found their legacy solutions to be ill-prepared for changing employee needs or unable to meet them altogether, hosted UC is going to be critical.

Market Performance Indicative Of Change

Today's enterprise professionals are defined by their mobility. Getting things done no longer requires a physical presence in the office, and the millennial section of the workforce specifically is helping to make cloud communication an essential investment for organizations of all kinds.

For proof of these developments, look no further than the upward market performance of UC assets. According to research conducted by TechNavio, the global unified communications market is expected to experience an annual growth of 15.85 percent through 2016. This means that businesses are taking unified communications initiatives very seriously and recognize the vast benefits that they can unlock.

But according to TMCnet contributor Tara Seals, appeasing the evolving requirements of employees is just one of the reasons that more companies are implementing hosted cloud unified communications.

"The unified communications (UC) and IP communications market continues to grow, as anywhere, anytime collaboration becomes a core requirement for companies and their employees and business partners," Seals wrote. "Ubiquitous mobility, remote and virtual working and distributed workforces are all now common realities for businesses, and with the integration of real-time communication and business processes, companies can decrease costs, improve efficiency and increase productivity."

Beyond The Mobile Employee

Satiating new working styles is just the tip of the iceberg for unified communications advantages. Opting for a hosted solution allows for companies to expand their reach without worrying about wiring new locations - any professional with a smartphone is able to join the network from remote offices that are in the process of being established. This saves time and money for any organization looking to grow.

Additionally, hosted cloud communications are ideal for driving innovation amongst IT staffers. No longer burdened with the upkeep of infrastructures, in-house tech workers can put their skills to better use, enabling new ways for these resources to be leveraged around the office. IT is rapidly transitioning from the keeper of computers to a mission-critical position. Much in the way that consumerization has allowed general staffers to handle many basic operations without assistance, hosted communications can further alleviate the strain caused by the mounting responsibilities placed on IT employees.

The Times Are Changing

Siloed communications are increasingly showing their ages. Rapid smartphone adoption has led to the realization that all channels can be available within the same interface - and should be, given what it can do for productivity and job satisfaction. People want universal, singular access to their personal and professional communications alike. As they start seeing this kind of convergence more frequently in private instances, they are going to continue to expect their employers to keep up with the times.

This is why investment in cloud unified communications is no longer an option - it is a requirement. The agility, flexibility and scalability that is inherent of these deployments allows for systems to contour to the needs of specific businesses. Regardless of staff size, location or current capabilities, a move to the cloud must be made, and in many situations, hosted services are going to be the ideal way to go.